--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: FDR's justices were allies while he was…" description: "\"FDR's justices were allies while he was alive, but after he died, they developed four totally different theories of what the Constitution is, two of wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/noah-feldman-12383_after_fdr-s-justices-were-allies-while-he-was_3211711.png" --- # FDR's justices were allies while he was alive, but after… ![“FDR's justices were allies while he was alive, but after he died, they developed four totally different theories of what the Constitution is, two of which are considered conservative and two of which are considered liberal.” quote by Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/noah-feldman-12383_after_fdr-s-justices-were-allies-while-he-was_3211711.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/noah-feldman-12383_after_fdr-s-justices-were-allies-while-he-was_3211711.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/noah-feldman-12383_after_fdr-s-justices-were-allies-while-he-was_3211711.png) > “FDR's justices were allies while he was alive, but after he died, they developed four totally different theories of what the Constitution is, two of which are considered conservative and two of which are considered liberal.” [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judges appointed by FDR later diverged into distinct constitutional theories, split between conservative and liberal camps. **In simple terms:** FDR’s judges later split into four main constitutional views. Key Takeaway Understand that judicial legacies can evolve beyond original intent. Themes law politics interpretation legacy ideology Mood thoughtful analytical inquisitive Type historical educational analytical When to use this quote - court decisions - law school debates - policy analysis - public discourse - historical research Key Concepts constitutional theory judicial independence political realignment Questions to Reflect On - What factors drive judges to reinterpret constitutional meaning? - How does political context shape legal doctrine? A Different Perspective Judicial philosophies are influenced by personal and societal changes, not just original appointments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Allies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Theories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theories/) ## Related quotes > [What is considered 'conservative' and what is considered 'liberal' changes in any given era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/what-is-considered-conservative-and-what-is-considered-liberal/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [I think the metric by which television is considered liberal is literally based on the metric of liberalism in each person's soul. Peoples' senses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-think-the-metric-by-which-television-is-considered-liberal-is/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Laying out grounds may be considered a liberal art, in some sort like poetry and painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/laying-out-grounds-may-be-considered-a-liberal-art-in-some-sort-like/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [Laying out grounds... may be considered as a liberal art, in some sort like poetry and painting… it is to assist Nature in moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/laying-out-grounds-may-be-considered-as-a-liberal-art-in-some-sort/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [To hear both critics and defenders talk about the fitness of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court, you'd think the most successful Supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/to-hear-both-critics-and-defenders-talk-about-the-fitness-of-judge/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Roosevelt got a chance to name an amazing nine justices of the Supreme Court. He was not namby-pamby on this question. He wanted people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/roosevelt-got-a-chance-to-name-an-amazing-nine-justices-of-the/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [We often imagine that the court serves as a sort of neutral umpire controlling the warring political branches. But this is mostly myth. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-as-a-sort-of-neutral-umpire/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Putting labels on people is so counter-productive. Most of us on some issues could be considered conservative, on other issues could be considered progressive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/putting-labels-on-people-is-so-counter-productive-most-of-us-on-some/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [Im generally considered a conservative in my predictions for disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-s-fauci/im-generally-considered-a-conservative-in-my-predictions-for-disease/) [Anthony S. Fauci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-s-fauci/) > [(A)nything not acting as a propaganda arm for the Democrats or the Leftist agenda is considered conservative these days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/a-nything-not-acting-as-a-propaganda-arm-for-the-democrats-or-the/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [Would join the Conservative Coalition in the state Legislature. About 60 percent of the Legislature are members or considered conservative, which my father was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-capps/would-join-the-conservative-coalition-in-the-state-legislature-about/) [Charles Capps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-capps/) > [I'm generally considered a conservative in my predictions for disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-fauci/i-m-generally-considered-a-conservative-in-my-predictions-for-disease/) [Anthony Fauci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-fauci/) > [I don't know one of my friends who is considered a conservative who has not had to go back and thoroughly think through everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-don-t-know-one-of-my-friends-who-is-considered-a-conservative-who/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [“The lawyers ceded their right to argue to case before the justices. A verdict would be rendered in secret, behind closed doors, with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-berard/the-lawyers-ceded-their-right-to-argue-to-case-before-the-justices-a/) [Adrienne Berard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-berard/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) ## More by Noah Feldman > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Our post-denominational age should be the perfect time for a Mormon to become president, or at least the Republican nominee. Mormons share nearly all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/our-post-denominational-age-should-be-the-perfect-time-for-a-mormon/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [In 1953, after the armistice ending the Korean War, South Korea lay in ruins. President Eisenhower was eager to put an end to hostilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/in-1953-after-the-armistice-ending-the-korean-war-south-korea-lay-in/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [The Chinese public is deeply nationalist, which matters to China's unelected political leadership as much as U.S. nationalism does to American politicians. As China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-chinese-public-is-deeply-nationalist-which-matters-to-china-s/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [In an ideological age, diplomacy may seem weak and prosaic. But sometimes it is all we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/in-an-ideological-age-diplomacy-may-seem-weak-and-prosaic-but/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [When we put our trust in diplomacy, it is not because it is an inspiring or uplifting discourse or because it helps us see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/when-we-put-our-trust-in-diplomacy-it-is-not-because-it-is-an/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [I have a 2-year-old son, and I know I'm dealing with a big, grand word when I can't point to the thing when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/i-have-a-2-year-old-son-and-i-know-i-m-dealing-with-a-big-grand-word/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Prisoners, according to the law, who are non-U.S. citizens and are detained outside the U.S. - including in Guantanamo Bay - are denied 'habeas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/prisoners-according-to-the-law-who-are-non-u-s-citizens-and-are/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [In politics, Joseph Smith was something of a radical. He preached, instead of democracy, a version of theocratic rule within a framework given by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/in-politics-joseph-smith-was-something-of-a-radical-he-preached/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [The true test of whether Mr. Obama has improved on the Bush era lies in how his administration justifies its decisions on the 241…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-true-test-of-whether-mr-obama-has-improved-on-the-bush-era-lies/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [In the first decade of the twenty-first century, the major international question was the relation between Islam and democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/in-the-first-decade-of-the-twenty-first-century-the-major/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Well-meaning Europeans sometimes argue that unlike the U.S., their countries are traditionally 'homogeneous' and have little experience with immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/well-meaning-europeans-sometimes-argue-that-unlike-the-u-s-their/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Many Muslims in Saudi Arabia believe that the core values of Islam, namely acknowledgement of God's sovereignty and basic human equality before God, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/many-muslims-in-saudi-arabia-believe-that-the-core-values-of-islam/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Cyber war takes place largely in secret, unknown to the general public on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/cyber-war-takes-place-largely-in-secret-unknown-to-the-general-public/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [We often imagine that the court serves as a sort of neutral umpire controlling the warring political branches. But this is mostly myth. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/we-often-imagine-that-the-court-serves-as-a-sort-of-neutral-umpire/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) [Explore all 55 Noah Feldman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) ## More After quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) Deke Richards > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I have a lot of success and make a good living, but after while, you start going 'Why? Why are you doing all this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-lot-of-success-and-make-a-good-living-but-after-while-you/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/see-to-do-good-and-you-will-find-that-happiness-will-run-after-you/) [James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [After The Wizard Of Oz I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lahr/after-the-wizard-of-oz-i-was-typecast-as-a-lion-and-there-aren-t-all/) Bert Lahr > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [I'd like an omelet named after me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-sewell/i-d-like-an-omelet-named-after-me/) [Rufus Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-sewell/) Browse all 3,411 After quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "FDR's justices were allies while he was alive, but after he died, they developed four totally different theories of what the Constitution is, two of which are considered conservative and two of which are considered liberal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noah Feldman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/fdr-s-justices-were-allies-while-he-was-alive-but-after-he-died-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "After" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/fdr-s-justices-were-allies-while-he-was-alive-but-after-he-died-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/noah-feldman-12383_after_fdr-s-justices-were-allies-while-he-was_3211711.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/noah-feldman-12383_after_fdr-s-justices-were-allies-while-he-was_3211711.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/noah-feldman-12383_after_fdr-s-justices-were-allies-while-he-was_3211711.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“FDR's justices were allies while he was alive, but after he died, they developed four totally different…” — Noah Feldman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Noah Feldman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "FDR's justices were allies while he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/fdr-s-justices-were-allies-while-he-was-alive-but-after-he-died-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/fdr-s-justices-were-allies-while-he-was-alive-but-after-he-died-they/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```